Process of and apparatus for making receptacles.



,E. A. CLAUS.

PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26.-l9l4.

Patented Apr. 2Q, 1915.

I EMIL A. CLAUS, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS 0F AND-APPARATUS FOR MAKING RECEPTACLES.

To all whom z't-may concern Be it known that I, EMIL A. CLAUS, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have inventedanew and Improved Process of-and Apparatus for Making Receptacles, ofwhich the following is a `introducing fluid under pressure into the moldto press the material against the walls of the same. 1

The invention further resides in a process in which the viscous materialis evenly spread upon the walls of the mold, both gravitaticnally andmechanically. i

The invention also consists in the use of fluid under pressure, forexample, heated air, to press and dry the material against the mold,

to determine theform of the receptacle to the conventional type. It 1scustomary at be fashioned.

The invention also consists in the provision of apparatus for formingreceptacles, which comprises a mold, means for introducing viscousmaterial into the mold, the niold being operable to spread the viscousmaterial gravitation'ally upon .the walls of the mold, and means formechanically wiping and spreading the viscous material against the wallsof the mold.

In addition, the invention resides in the provision of means in saidapparatus, for introducing fluid, such for example, as heated air, intothe mold, to assist in pressing the material against the walls of themold, and in 'drying the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andelicient process of making receptacles such as milk bottles and' thelike, from viscous material, such as wood pulp, or cotton pulp, by meansof which the receptacles can be rapidly produced, which` does notrequire elaborate, complicated or costly machinery or apparatus, whichFdoes not necessitate the employment of skilled labor, and bymeans ofwhich strong, durable and cheap receptacles can be produced.

A further object of the invention is to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented am. so, i915.

Application led January 26, 1914. Serial No. 814,526.

provide an apparatus for carrying out the above-specified process, whichis simple and eilicient, and easy of operation.

The invention, with respect to the apparatus, consists in theconstruction and combination of parts` to be more fully describedhereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure l is a sideelevation showing an embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out theprocess constituting my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, verticalsection of a part of the apparatus, showing the mold for forming thereceptacle; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig.2.

Before proceeding to a more detailed eX- planation of my invention, itshould be clearly understood that while the process and apparatus can be4used for fashioning receptacles of'dilerent kinds, sizes andproportions, I have exempliied herein a process and apparatus forproducing milk bottles of the present time to vend and distribute milkin bottles of a particular form, and customaril capable of holding onequart or one pint. hese bottles are of glass and of substantiallycylindrical shape, lhaving large mouths provided with internal, annularshoulders upon which are received stopper 'disks of paper or the like,wedged into position. I have ascertained thatthe life of a glass milkbottle of this type is approximately six uses; that is, because ofbreakage or loss the vender on the average can only make use` of abottle six times. F urthermore, suchr bottles, if they are used morethan once, must be thoroughly cleansed, in order that the contentsthereof may be delivered in a completely sanitary condition, and theprocess of collecting and cleansing the glass bottles is naturally anexpenswe one. Furthermore, glass bottles of this type are heavy andconsi erable expense is thereb Y entailed in the shipping and deliveringoi1milkV in such receptacles. I am aware that itis not new to employnllk bottles of paraiiined paper or like material, but as far as I know,it has not heen possible to produce such bottles cheaply andexpeditiously.

Furthermore, the receptacles of this kind do' not have the form whichthe ordinary glass milk bottle today has, and it has been found thatthis shape is an ecient and economical one.

My invention is particularly useful in that it enables me to produceVcheaply and expeditiously a receptacle ,light in weight, thoroughlyimpervious to moisture, and which has approximately those particularforms and proportions.

It should be understood however, that I do not limit my invention to theproduction of milk bottles or receptacles having any predetermined shapeor size.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have exemplifiedapparatus by means of which a milk bottle can be very readily fashionedfrom viscous material such as wood or cotton pulp used in themanufacture of paper. I do not wish to limit myself to the particularmaterial however, and any semi-fluid material adapted subsequently toharden, which lends itself to the purpose, can be employed. In' Fig. 1is shown substantially an entire apparatus designed for my process. Thisincludes a vertical shaft 10 having its lower end supported in a bearing11 mounted on a suitable base v12. Upon the latter is carried anupwardly extending standard 13 having the upper end offset and providedwith a bearing 14 in which is received the shaft 10. The latter carriesa beveled gear 15 meshingwith a second beveled gear 16 secured upon adrive shaft l7 lmounted in a bearing 1,8. The drive shaft 17 is actuatedin any suitable manner from a source of power (not shown).

Rigidly securedl upon the shaft 10 above the bearing 14, is a revolubletable 19, which hasa downwardly extending sleeve 20 seating upontheupper end of the bearing 14. The table 19 serves to support the mold,which consists of sections 21 and 22 forming together a moldapproximating the shape of the ordinary milk bottle, as will readily beseen from an inspection of Fig. 2. The mold sections are fashioned fromsuitable reticulate material such as a fine mesh. screen. The base ofthe mold is likewise fashioned from a convex,'circular section of screen23, mounted upon a suitably formed block 24 positioned upon the table19. Each section of the mold is secured within a frame comprisingsemi-annular parts 25 and uprights 26, 27 and 28. The adjacent uprights26 are secured together by means of hinges 29, so that'the framesections can be opened and closed, topermit the finished article to beremoved. The adjacent uprights 27 may be integral, or as shown forexample herewith,

secured together by means of bolts 30. -The uprights 28, which arediametrically opposite v to the hinged uprights 26, are preferablyfastened together y means. of clips or catches 31. It will be readilyunderstood that when the clips or catches 31 are removed, the hollowsections can be swung open, and can subsequently be closed and againsecured together by means of the clips. The base portion 23 of the moldof course does not alter its position when the mold is opened or closed.

Positioned a substantial distance directly above the mold sections is asupport32 provided with an opening through which extends movably, a pipe33. VAt the upper end of this pipe is located a double valve 34 havingan inlet 35 adapted to communicate with the viscous material supply, andan inlet 37 adapted to communicate with av source of heated fluid, s'uchas air preheated and under compression. The double valve is providedwith a handle 38 so that it can be manipulated to permit the entrance ofpulp or of air into the pipe 33. The latter extends downwardly into themold and is provided with a head 39 adapted to be received within themold, and having an annular, contracted part 40 for a purpose to appearhereinafter. Associated with the head is a disk 41 arranged to rest uponthe top of the mold sections and the frames, and having secured theretoa pair of guide rods 42 slidablyreceived within suitable openings ofthesupport 3,2. At the upper ends, the rods have rigidly fastened theretocollars 43 which-rest upon the support as is shown in Fig. 1, when thepipe 33 and its associated parts are in ytheir lowermost positions.

Beyond the head 39 the pipe is extendedto form an elongated nozzle 44which, when the pipe is in its depressed position extends into the moldnearly to the bottom thereof.

The-nozzle has a slot 45 extending along its entire length, and having apar-t 46 extending across the bottom of the nozzle, which is closed.Secured to the nozzle is a wiper 47 consisting of a plate or sheet ofmaterial such as vsoft rubber, having its outer and lower edgecorresponding to the inner outline of the bottle or other'receptacle tobe formed. The parts are so proportioned that the distance between theouter andlower edges of the wiper and the inner wall and the bottomofthe mold corresponds to the thickness of the wall and bottom of themolded article.

The carrying out of my process by means of the above-described operationis as follows: The mold sections are closed, and secured together bymeans of the clips 31. The valve 34 is operated to permit wood pulp orother viscous material to enter preferably under pressure through theinlet-35.

A t the saine time the shaft17 is driven to cause the shaft 10 to rotaterapidly, and with.

terial. It is maintained against the inner walls ofthe mold by thecentrifugal force, and is thereby spread upon the same in an even layer.At the ysame time, the spreading and uniform disposalv of the plasticmaterial is assisted by means of the wiperA?, as the rapidly rotatingmold carries the viscous material past the edges of the wiper, as themold revolves. The amount of material necessary for a single receptacleis of course predetermined, and when the proper quantity has entered themold, the valve is operated to shut off the flow, and to open the inlet39. Fluid, such as air under pressure'thereupon enters the mold andfurther presses and lattens the viscous material against the walls Qfthesame. Preferably, the air is heated in order to facilitate the dryingof the paper pulp or othermaterial. The mold may continue to revolve ormay be brought to a stop during the introduction of the air underpressure. This pressureneed not be a very high one, and I have foundthat one or two pounds to the square inch will under ordinaryVcircumstances, answer the purpose. Even if the viscous material isdischarged gravitationally on to the bottom of the mold, the moldrotating rapidly will force the mass at the bottom to move toward thelateral surfaceV and the centrifugal force will cause the mass at thebottom to rise on the lateral surface of the mold, due to the fact thatthe lateral surface of the mold decreases in diameter from the bottomtoward the top, as can be easily seen from Fig. 2, the wiperfacilitating the rise and even distribution of the material during therotation of the mold. YIt furthermore serves as a smoother for the innersurface of the bottle formed.

After the article has been molded and compacted against the sides of themold, centrifugally and mechanically, as above described, and, ifnecessary, has been partially dried by the heated air, the nozzle andwiper are Withdrawn. 'It will be seen that the head 39 is so formed thatthe bottle 4:8 isl provided atthe inside of the neck 49, with a shoulder50 adapted for Jae reception of a closing disk of paper or othermaterial. As the pipe Y33 is moved upward, the nozzle is withdrawn fromthe formed receptacle,

and with it the wiper 47. As the latter'is of soft material it willreadily be displaced or distorted, and can pass through the constrictedopening at the mouth of the bottle, without tearing vor otherwiseinjuring the same. The mold sections can then be opened and thereceptacle removed and placed in a drier, or permitted to dry atatmospheric temperature, and then rendered moistureproof. It will bereadily understood Ithat the duration of the operation or of thedifferent phases thereof will depend to a certain extent upon thecharacter-of the material used and the temperature and pressure of thefiuid introduced into the mold. These and others of the details form nopart of my invention, and can be varied in accordance withl individualpreference and special conditions. The use of a perforated or reticulatemold is'an important part of my invention in that it enables themoisture in the plastic material used, to escape readily through theinterstices of the mold. It will of course be understood that these areso proportioned that the plastic material itself will not escape, andwill permit its being spread upon the inner walls of the mold in aneven, compact and uniform layer. For this reason too, it is inadvisableto employ the heated fluid under a heavy pressure, as it might tend toforce the material into and through the perforations in the screen.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new` and desire to secureby Letters Patent l. The process of making receptacles, which consistsin introducing viscous material into a mold, in causing the material tobe spread upon the inner surface of said mold, in mechanically wipingthe material into a thin layer upon the inner surface of said mold, andin introducing fluid under pressure into said mold t0 press the materialagainst the walls thereof and to dry the same.

2. The process of making receptacles, which. consists i-n introducingviscous material into a perforated mold, in causing the material to bespread upon the inner surface of said mold, by centrifugal action, andin mechanically wiping the material into a thin layer upon the innersurface of said mold, and in introducing fluid under pres-- sure intosaid mold, to press the material against the walls thereof.

3. vThe process of making receptacles, which consists in introducingviscous material into a mold, and in spreading the material u on thewalls of the mold by mechanical y wiping the same against the walls ofsaid mold and by means of fluid under pressure.

4. The process of making receptacles, which consists in introducingviscous material. into'a perforate mold, in causing the material to bespread upon the inner surface of said mold, by rotating said mold, inmechanically wiping the material into a thin layer upon the innersurface of said mold, and in mtroducing heated fiuid under pressure intosaid mold to press the material against the walls thereof.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotary mold, meansforintroducing viscous material into said mold, fiexible means forwiping said material into a thin layer upon the inner' walls of saidmold, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into said mold..

6. Apparatus of'the class described, comprising a sectional mold, meansfor rotating said mold, a nozzle normally projecting into said mold andremovable therefroima ex ible wiper associated with said nozzle, andmeans for introducing viscous material and fluid under pressure in'tosaid mold, through said nozzle.

7. Apparatus of the'class described, comprising a mold having sidesections and a bottom, and adapted to be opened to permit the removal ofmolded articles, means lfor rotating said mold, a nozzle normallyprojecting into said mold and having a slot extending longitudinallthereof, a flexible Wiper associated with said nozzle, and means forsuccessively introducing into said mold, through said nozzle, viscousmaterial and fluid under pressure.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a mold, and a wiper having theedges thereof conforming substantially to the inner outline of saidmold, and fashioned from iiexible material.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a mold having a reduced opening,a removable nozzle projecting into said mold through said' opening, anda wiper associated with said nozzle and fashioned from material suchthat it can be withdrawn through the opening of the molded article, withsaid nozzle, without danger of injury to the molded article.

10.In apparatus of the class described, a Wiper consisting of a sheet ofsoft rubber.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mold havinglongitudinal sections and a bottom, means for opening and closing saidsections whereby a molded article can be removed, means for rotatingsaid mold, a nozzle normally projecting into said mold and having a slotextending longitudinally thereof, said nozzle having a head adapted tobe engaged by said longitudinal section and therewith shape the top ofthe receptacle, a wiper associated with ysaid nozzle and means forsuccessively introducing into said mold viscous material and i fluidunder pressure.

12. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mold havinglongitudinal sections and a bottom, said longitudinal sections having atop integral therewith, lateral means for said sections permitting theremoval of molded articles, means for rotating said mold, a nozzlenormally projecting into said mold and having a head extending laterallythereof, said nozzle'having a head adapted to be engaged by the top ofsaid longitudinal section whereby said nozzle is locked in position, awiper associated with said nozzle, and means for successivelyintroducing into said mold through said nozzle viscous material and uidunder pressure, said head of the nozzle being adapted to co-act withsaid longitudinal section and form, the mouth of the article to bemolded.

13. The process of making receptacles,

Awhich consists in introducing viscous ,material into a mold, in causingthe material to be spread upon the inner surface of said mold bycentrifugal action, in mechanically wiping the materialinto a thinlayer.- upon the inner surface of said mold, and in introducing Huidunder pressure into said mold.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mold having areducedopening, a nozzle for said mold, and a wiper associated with saidnozzle and fashioned from flexible material that can be withdrawnthrough the opening of the molded article without dan'- ger of injury tothe molded article.

l5. The processl of making receptacles, which consists in introducingviscous material into a mold and in simultaneously spreading, wiping andsupplying heat to the said material in the mold. v

16. The process of making receptacles, which consists in introducingviscous material into a mold and in simultaneously, centrifugally andmechanically spreading said material, wiping it smoothy and drying thesame in the mold, the drying being done by a heated fluid.

In testimony whereofy I have hereunto ysigned my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL A. CLAUS.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. BRAcHvoGnL, GEORGE H. EMsLm.

